Lawrence R Mackey

US Patent:

53817516, Jan 17, 1995

Filed:

Nov 17, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/153158

Inventors:

William R. Richards - Springfield VA
John A. Wilkes - Crofton MD
Brian K. Schwatka - College Park MD
Andrew M. Resnick - Bethesda MD
Lawrence A. Mackey - Waldorf MD

Assignee:

Oceaneering Technologies, Inc. - Upper Marlboro MD

International Classification:

B63B 3500

US Classification:

114264

Abstract:

A deep-ocean relocation system includes a transport vehicle (glider) and a quad riser assembly for transporting waste for disposal at abyssal depths. The transport vehicle is either self-powered or towed by a host vehicle, and travels at the water surface or underwater to the disposal site. At the disposal site, the transport vehicle, which is primarily constructed of a space-frame matrix that is positively buoyant in sea water, descends to abyssal depths along a helical glide path, discharges its waste cargo, and thereafter ascends. The quad riser assembly includes a floating platform and at least two riser lines extending from the platform down to abyssal depths. Waste is discharged through at least one of the riser lines to the abyssal depths, while at least one other riser line is used to draw water from the abyssal depths to generate a slurry with the waste material. The waste is thus thermally habituated prior to disposal. Both of these approaches provide cost effective and environmentally safe means for the depositing/relocation of large tonnages of waste, totally isolating the waste from the intervening water column, while generating low plume, and precisely emplacing the waste in abyssal sea floor regions possessing low biodiversity, low productivity and low kinetic energy.